1| Afsana

🪞 Soyi soyi palkon pe chalke,

Mere sapno ki khidki pe aa gaya 🪞

"Uff ab chalo bhi, Kavya." Kavya huffed as she heard her best friend's voice for the nth time.

Oh come on now,

"Ek minute ruk, bas aa rahi hu, Radhika." Kavya said as she gave herself a last look in the mirror and exited her room.

Wait for a minute, I'm coming,

She was wearing her favourite colour, white. It was a white chikankari kurti and plazzo set. She was wearing silver oxidised jhumkas, bangles and jhuttis.

She hurriedly made her way downstairs. It was 7:50 already and they had a class at 8:45 am. It was a 25 minute drive to their university so unless they hurry, they're gonna be late.

"Bhai, aaj please hamien university drop kar dein na. Bahot late ho raha hai aur aaj driver bhaiya bhi half-day par hai." Kavya said as she took her seat on the breakfast table. Radhika was already present there, eating food from her plate.

Brother, please drop us to university. We are already very late and the driver's on a half-day leave.

"Jaldi kyun nahi uthti ho tum?" Krishna, her brother said with a frown.

Why don't you get up on time?

"Bhai aaj ke baad pakka time par uth jaungi. Bas aaj kae liye drop kardein." She said and gave him the puppy dog eyes. Krishna loved Kavya to death. He couldn't deny her after her puppy eyes.

Brother from tomorrow, I'll wake up on time for sure. Just drop us for today.

"Baccha mai kar deta drop but mujhe papa ke saath factory jana hai aur tumhari university opposite direction mai hai." He said and gave her a sympathetic smile.

Kiddo, I would've but I've to go to the factory today and your university is in a completely opposite direction.

"Tu jaldi kyun nahi uthti?" Radhika teased her as she took another bite from Kavya's plate.

Why don't you get up early?

"Tu apni plate se kyun nahi khati?" Kavya said getting a bit irritated.

Why don't you eat from your own plate?

"Teri wali me swaad zyada aata hai." Radhika replied with a wink.

Food from yours, tastes better.

"Aree yaar, aaj to pakka dant padegi pehli class mai." Kavya said as she kept her head down on the table with a huff.

Oh man, we're for sure gonna get an earful in the first class itself.

"Kaho to mai university drop kar du?" Came a voice from the entrance of the dinning room.

I can drop you if you want to.

Kavya immediately looked up at the owner of the voice. It was none other than Abhijeet.

Abhijeet Rathore was best friends with Krishna, her brother. They went to the same school and university. They even work in the same field and see each other almost every other day. He was like a son to her family since the boys have been practically raised together.

Oh and also, he was the love of her life.

"Abhijeet, aap yahan?" Radhika said as she saw him. Since Radhika and Kavya have been best friends since years, she very well knows about who Abhijeet is and how Kavya feels for him.

You're here?

Kavya and Radhika are just two years younger to the boys and hence don't call them 'bhai'. Only Kavya calls Krishna bhai because calling an elder sibling by name is frowned upon in their household. Kavya and Krishna's parents were very rigid and particular about their traditions and customs.

Brother.

"Krishna ko bas ye return gift dene aya tha jab Kavya ki awaz suni." Abhijeet said as he took a seat next to Krishna.

I came to give this retune gift to Krishna when I heard Kavya's voice.

"Kal jo tune Gaurav ki party miss ki thi, uski return gift usne mujhe dedi, tujhe dene ke liye." Abhijeet explained as he passed the basket of gifts to Krishna. Gaurav was their common friend from university.

Yesterday you missed Gaurav's party so he handed me your return gift, to pass it onto you.

"Yaar kal wo meeting nahi hoti to zaroor ata. Thanks anyways yaar." Krishna said accepting the gift basket. He passed it to Kavya who didn't get to even look at it properly since it was snatched by Radhika. She excitedly started looking through the goodies in it.

If I wouldn't have had that meeting yesterday, I would've attended it for sure. Thanks anyways man.

"Ab late nahi ho raha?" Kavya sarcastically asked Radhika as she got up from her seat and took her tote bag with her.

Now aren't you getting late?

"Aree haa. Mai to bhul hi gai." Radhika said, as she got up from her seat as well.

Oh yeah. I completely forgot.

Abhijeet chuckled at this and got up from his seat.

"Aajo, mai gaadi mei wait karta hu." He said and picked his car keys from the table.

Come on, I'm waiting in the car.

"Aree nahi. Apko office jane mei late hoga. Hum chale jayenge activa pe." Kavya politely tried declining his offer. Radhika purposely stepped on her feet and gave her a 'what-do-you-think-you-are-you-doing?' look.

Oh no no. You must be getting late for your office. We'll get there on our scooter.

"Mujhe kuch late nahi ho raha. Aajo mai time par drop kar dunga." Abhijeet said with a smile.

I'm not getting late at all. Come on, I'll drop you guys on time.

"Aap khamakha pareshaan," Kavya started talking, again tried to deny his offer when Radhika cut her off.

You're taking all the trouble for no reason...

"Bas 2 minute mai aaye." Radhika said and gave Abhijeet a tight-lipped smile.

We'll be there in 2 minutes.

"Kya kar rahi hai?" Kavya whisper-yelled at Radhika.

What are you doing?

"Chal chup chap." Radhika said as she gave a mock glare to her best friend.

Shut up and come on, now.

Kavya rolled her eyes and drank her cup of tea in one go. She took her tote bag and both of them started walking towards the parking, where Abhijeet was waiting for them.

Kavya was walking ahead of Radhika and as soon as she walked outside her house, her eyes fell on a gorgeous Abhijeet, leaning by the passenger door of his black Mercedes.

He gave a polite smile to the girls and opened the door for both of them. Radhika purposely got in the back seat of the car, letting Kavya sit next to him. Abhijeet closed the door for Radhika and looked at Kavya who was standing near the passenger door but hadn't got in yet.

"Chalo, madam." Abhijeet jokingly said and gave a smile to Kavya.

Come on, madam.

"Haan." Kavya said and got into the car. Abhijeet closed her door for her and walked to the driver's side.

Yeah.

"Aww... 'madam'." Radhika teasingly said as she noticed a small smile playing on Kavya's lips.

"Chup kar." Kavya whisper-yelled and before Radhika could tease her further, Abhijeet opened the car door and got in.

Shut it.

After Kavya and he, wore their respective seat belts, Abhijeet started the car and pulled onto the main road. He turned on the car AC and the stereo. It was a hot day so he dropped down the temperature.

Kavya observed each of his move. He was wearing a steel grey kurta with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The veins on his arms were popping as he kept his right hand on the steering wheel and rested the left one on the hand rest. He wore a pair of black sunglasses and kept on tossing his hair back ever so often. She couldn't help but admire every action of his.

This man was sinfully handsome and so unaware of it at the same time.

They had been driving for almost 15 minutes when he decided to break the silence.

"Aur kitne semesters baaki hai tum dono ke?" He questioned as he turned the car towards the third exit.

How many more semesters are you guys left with?

"Bas ye last hai, 6th semester. Kuch hafte mei exams aur fir graduation." Kavya answered looking at him.

This is the last one, 6th. Exams are after a few weeks and then graduation.

Kavya and Radhika were pursuing a bachelors degree in jewellery designing currently.

"Very good. Aage kya socha hai?" Abhijeet asked.

Have you thought about what you want to do after this?

"Mai soch rahi hu kahi acchi si jagah par job lelu." Kavya replied.

I'm thinking of getting a job somewhere nice.

"Bahot acche. Aur tum Radhika?" Abhijeet asked sparring a glance at her through the mirror.

Very good. And you, Radhika?

"Mai to soch rahi hu shaadi hi karlu. Ye job-vob mujhse nahi hoti." Radhika said nonchalantly.

I'm thinking of getting married now. I'm not made for this job thingy.

"Aree ye kya baat hui?" Abhijeet started his sentence but got silenced at Kavya's sudden laugh.

Hey, what's is this?

Abhijeet's words died down in his throat when he heard her angelic laugh from his left side. He looked at her for a solid second before turning his attention back towards the road. He didn't realise when he himself broke into a smile. He chuckled at Radhika's answer and shook his head at her antiques.

"Mai serious hu. App dono hass kya rahe hai?" Radhika said with a pout as she huffed at the two laughing at her.

I'm serious. Why are you both laughing like this?

"Tera koi boyfriend to bana nahi college ke 3 salon mei aur sapne shaadi ke dekh rahi hai." Kavya said as she gave a cheeky smile to her.

You didn't have a boyfriend all through these 3 years of college and you're dreaming of getting married.

"Bol to aise rahi hai jaise tera ho koi." Radhika said replicating her best friend's cheeky smile.

You're talking as if you have anyone.

"Accha lo, tum dono ki university aa gai." Abhijeet said, breaking the conversation he started.

Okay here, we've arrived at your university.

"Thank you, Abhijeet." Radhika's phone started ringing so thanking Abhijeet she quickly exited the car.

Kavya checked the time in her phone and they did manage to get there with 5 minutes to spare.

"Aap ne sach mei waqt par pohcha diya. Shukriya." She politely said.

You really did bring us here on time. Thank you.

She turned to open the car door when she felt his hand grip her wrist. He turned her around and unknowingly pulled her closer. Their faces were mere inches apart, their breaths mingling and eyes locked with each other. She could feel his breath hit her face and she unknowingly held her own.

"Mujhe accha laga ke tumhe shaadi vagere ki koi jaldi nahi. Job karke independent hona chahti ho." He said in a soft voice.

I liked that you're not in a haste to get married and all. You wanna take up a job and be independent.

"Th...Thank you." Kavya didn't get why she stuttered but concluded it had to do something with their closeness.

"Classes ho jaye to mujhe call kar sakti ho. Pick karne aa jaunga." Abhijeet offered.

You may call me once you're done with your classes. I'll be here to pick you up.

"Nahi, shaam tak to driver bhaiya aa jayenge. Unke saath hi chale jayenge." She said with a grateful smile.

No, our driver will be here in the evening. We'll go with him.

"Okay. Have a good day." Abhijeet said with a minor tug on her wrist and finally let her go. She smiled at him and nodded.

"Good day to you too." She said and quickly exited the car.

"Laal kyu ho rahi hai?" Radhika, who had just disconnected the call and turned around, noticed the blush on her best friend's face.

Why're you so red?

"Nahi toh." Kavya said trying to dismiss the conversation and started walking towards the entrance of their university block.

I'm not.

"Kuch to huva hai... kuch ho gaya hai." She heard Radhika sing the lyrics of a famous song, in an attempt to tease her.

Something has happened... Something has happened for sure.

Kavya bit her lips, trying to stop herself from smiling but failed miserably. She hid her face from her best friend with the help of her hair and quickly made her way towards her class.

~ Kavya's outfit ~

~ x ~

So, how was the first chapter? Let me know.